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JAL adds dash of magic to promote new credit card

5 Comments
By KK Miller, RocketNews24

Even though Japan remains a mostly cash-based society, more and more places now accept credit and debit cards.

But just like with any other “new” technology, both businesses and consumers in Japan can be a little slow on the uptake. It’ll take some big-name companies pushing their credit cards on people in order to make plastic the go-to method of payment for Japan.

Japan Airlines (JAL) has recently launched a new credit card, and to show just how “magical” the experience of paying by anything other than cash can be, the company has hired a master sleight-of-hand magician, Zach Mueller, to demonstrate.

Watch the video below closely, now. Those are certainly some mystifying moves! Even the people who are supposed to charge the card can’t even believe it.

Not to be outdone, the end of the commercial finishes with a performance by a waiter/magician who turns the credit card into a JAL plane ticket, since, like all the good credit cards these days, there are plenty of perks and rewards that go along with JAL’s card.

Source: YouTube/Fontaine Cards

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Attack on Titan advances to the world of finance with anime Visa credit cards -- Lifehack: Transform a Starbucks paper bag into a fully functional wallet! -- Get the most out of your visit to Japan with these tourist-only deals

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5 Comments
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Right! It's just like magic! Use your JAL credit card too much and the interest you'll be paying to the card company will make your money disappear just like.....magic!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Nothing like going backwards, Japan! Just when they were starting to unify the card system so that you didn't have to have an individual shop or company's credit card, they pull this garbage. I have a friend with more than 10 VISA cards because a few years ago certain shops would ONLY accept their Visas and nothing else, despite the signs on their shop saying they accept 'Visa', which is actually as such illegal advertising. HIS, for example, accepts payment by any major credit card online, but walk into their shop to reserve a trip and it's either cash in the thousands, or else the Skywalker Visa card.

Why? Because these companies can add their own interest on top of what Visa charges and make more profit on the difference. Now, if they accept all credit cards BESIDES this new JAL visa, and give some bonus instead for using it over a regular visa (you'll still have more interest), then fine. What usually ends up happening with people who have all these different cards is that they start to try paying off one with another and wind up even worse.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

a few years ago certain shops would ONLY accept their Visas and nothing else

I've had a Visa card for well over three decades, and I've never had a shop with a 'Visa' sign refuse it, even when they have their own in-shop cards. (Except one time long ago in the UK, when M&S didn't want to accept a card issued in Japan: they wanted me to wait while they OK'd it with their credit department. We were in a hurry, so my Dad paid with his card instead, and I gave him the cash.)

And I've never, ever paid interest on any credit card. Pay what's due each month (=don't spend more than you can afford?) and there are no interest charges. And you get those bonus points, which make paying by card often cheaper in the long run than paying cash.

What usually ends up happening with people who have all these different cards is that they start to try paying off one with another

I do have a number of different cards, because of the points/services local shops offer; I wouldn't know how to go about trying to pay one off with another.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Those are certainly some mystifying moves! Even the people who are supposed to charge the card can’t even believe it.

I'm sure customers will also be mystified with the hidden charges, too! Jokes aside, I've been flying with JAL for close to 2 decades and their point programme, much like most others in Japan, is a total farce. I broke my arm while on holiday a few months ago and asked if I could use my points to move seats or upgrade to Premium Economy, as my arm was causing me discomfort. No dice!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

JAL is a rubbish airline and its brand cachet is pretty poor too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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